Rapid Expansion for the Galaxy Z Lineup
The Galaxy Z Fold8 was such a success out of the gate that Samsung increased the production target for this year by 1 million units. Currently, the pre-order phase for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra is still very much in effect. Capitalizing on this momentum, Samsung will launch two wide foldables next year, claim insiders who spoke to ETNews.
This aggressive push means that the Galaxy Z9 generation will have a total of five members. The expanded roster will consist of the wide Z Fold9, a second wide foldable, the Z Fold9 Ultra, the Z Flip9, and a new Galaxy Z TriFold.
Galaxy Club reports validate this strategy, confirming that Samsung is planning to launch five separate Galaxy Z devices in 2027. Samsung is reportedly planning to include the Galaxy Z TriFold 2 in the mix, adding a specialized variant to an otherwise ordinary mix. An unknown fifth device under the codename “Z9” remains a mystery, though South Korean sources claim Samsung has set a goal for 2028 to supply display panels for rollable phones.
The Eight-Device Flagship Strategy
ETNews reports that Samsung has a whopping eight flagship releases coming up in 2027. Four of these will be traditional slab devices in the Galaxy S lineup: the Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27+, Galaxy S27 Pro, and Galaxy S27 Ultra.
As recent leaks have detailed, the new “Pro” device slots below the Ultra with a smaller display, but offers better specs compared to the baseline devices. Beyond the slab models, Samsung would follow up its Galaxy Z Fold 8 series with an identical lineup of foldables.
This includes two book-style foldables and a Flip, but this time with the return of the short-lived Galaxy Z TriFold. If true, this “4+4” strategy would be a big shake-up for Samsung’s lineup, indicating that 2027 is shaping up to be a busy year for the brand.
Accelerating the Foldable Market
The forecast says foldable shipments should reach 20.6 million units in 2025, up 10% from 2024. Sales are expected to accelerate in 2026 as Samsung's tri-fold leads the year and Apple's device closes it. Samsung plans to court mainstream shoppers in 2026 with the Galaxy Z Trifold.
Apple's first foldable iPhone, expected in late 2026, is projected to take more than 22% of global unit share and 34% of segment revenue in its debut year. Samsung, Huawei, and Apple remain the main competitors pushing into this foldable tier.
The IDC expects foldables to blow up to 10% of the total smartphone market by 2029, though it notes it took six years to reach the current market share. This is a massive jump from 2024, where approximately 18.7 million foldable units shipped, representing just 1.5% of the 1.2 billion total smartphones shipped.